Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 45371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
My voice is calm, but there’s a weight inside of me. He needs to understand.
“How does that involve screwing my daughter?” Cameron waves the cigarette, ash fluttering. “That’s an interesting way not to hurt a man.”
“We’re trying for a baby.”
Cameron gapes at me. He was about to puff on his cigarette, but his hand slows then stops, and his eyes narrow.
“Is this a joke?”
“I haven’t dated for over a decade. I’m not what you might think I am—some rich asshole taking advantage of women. I never planned on finding Bonnie so clever, so funny, so talented, so warm, so loving, so selfless, so…”
I trail off, realizing Cameron is smiling, but when I stop, he pushes the smile away, glaring.
“She’s special,” I go on. “She’s the first woman I’ve ever felt this for.”
“This?” Cameron says. “What’s this?”
“I’d do anything to protect her, anything to help her chase her dreams. Anything to give her the life she deserves.”
“This is why she knows so much about Isla, about your business.”
“I can’t lie to her,” I say. “I’m sorry. I really am. I wish she wasn’t your daughter, but we have a connection. She feels the same. She told me tonight. You remember what you used to say about Isla?”
“Don’t,” he says, his voice tight.
We say nothing for a while, watching Archie pad around the garden and finally climb the steps, lying flat on the stones. I try not to think of Bonnie waiting for me upstairs, the silk sheets wrapped around her curvy, naked body, wondering where I am.
“You can’t tell me you feel the same,” Cameron finally says. “When I saw Isla, the universe clicked into place. It all made sense. We were childhood sweethearts. It was love at first sight, and I don’t care what anybody says.”
“That’s it. The universe clicking into place—”
“Are you saying you love my daughter?”
I stare steadily at him. “With everything inside of me. With all my heart—my heart, which was cold and dead before she walked into my life. With everything I have. With the rage that led me to kill that bastard after what he did to Isla.”
My voice cracks as I think about the truth of these words. I love her. I loved her the second I saw her.
“With everything in me, I love her,” I continue, steadying my voice.
“And you’ve told her about this connection, have you?”
“We want children together. We want a life together.”
Cameron lights another cigarette. I can’t even remember him finishing the last one.
“She really wants the same?”
“Yes.”
“Because it wouldn’t be hard for a man like you to twist a nineteen-year-old’s head up pretty damn easily.”
“You’re right,” I say. “I’ve got the money and the connections to force any woman to do anything I want. If I had the urge for it, I could have twenty models on this estate at all times, doing whatever I commanded when I commanded. Or a socialite. An actress. Anybody.”
“Are you bragging?” Cameron says in disgust.
“I’m telling you the truth,” I snap, “so you understand. I could have it, but I never wanted any of that. I thought I’d die alone, but then I met Bonnie.”
“And this started with her job?”
“Yes.”
He shakes his head slowly. “That wasn’t even a week ago.”
“When you know,” I say firmly, “you know.”
He flinches, no doubt remembering when he said that exact thing to me. He was talking about Isla and their engagement when they were still too young to get married.
“I know you’d hate me if I was using her,” I say, “but I’m not. We’re in love. We agree on the path we want our lives to take. We’re more ready for marriage and a future than most people are after months or years.”
“I’ve never seen you like this before,” Cameron says, softening a little.
“I’ve never been like this before. I’ve never felt this.”
He groans, massaging his forehead. “I lied to her for years, Blake. I thought the truth would break her, but she’s stronger than I guessed. Or maybe I’m just a coward.”
I pat him on the shoulder. “You’ve always been a good man. You’ve lost your way. That’s all. Let me help you. A gambling program, a job, health insurance, a decent place to live.”
I’ve made similar offers before during our phone conversations. Normally, he says no. Now, he sighs. “Maybe, but I want to do something legitimate.”
“We’ve got charities all over the city. Dog shelters, food kitchens, walk-ins for vulnerable women.”
“Really?” Cameron says.
“Why are you so surprised?” I snap. “We saw what evil men can do. It works like this, Cameron. Sometimes, my men visit these assholes if the cops can’t or won’t. Maybe we put the fear of God into them. Maybe we monitor them after and keep scaring them until they’re too terrified to ever touch another woman.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Cameron whispers.